On August 13, 2017, the following groups held a counter-rally to protest what they described as “far-right extremists” who planned to gather at Westlake Park: Greater Seattle IWW General Defense Committee Local 24, Seattle Solidarity, Seattle branch of the Freedom Socialist Party, Seattle branch of Radical Women, ANSWERSeattle, Seattle Party for Socialism and Liberation, SAFE in Seattle, Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity, Seattle Veterans for Peace Chapter 92, Clifton Wyatt (former President of Local A 751 International Association of Machinists), Washington Federation of State Employees - Local 304. According to the events Facebook page, the purpose of the protest was to demonstrate “solidarity with our targeted community members against the barrage of hate and violence coming from the ever-emboldened far-right.” The march began at Denny Park and moved towards Westlake Park, but were rebuffed and pepper-sprayed at numerous police barricades. Initially, organizers estimated that 200 people or less would attend their event. However, the day before the march was scheduled, a terrorist drove a car into a crowd of anti-fascist protestors in Charlottesville, Virginia, killing Heather Heyer. This led to an additional 600 people indicating that they were interested in attending the event on Facebook.